Oktiabr’: Desiat let bor’by i stroitel’stva 1917-1927. Katalog knig. (October: Ten Years of Struggle and Construction 1917-1927: Book Catalog) by Varvara Stepanova

Oktiabr’: Desiat let bor’by i stroitel’stva 1917-1927. Katalog knig. (October: Ten Years of Struggle and Construction 1917-1927: Book Catalog)

Varvara Stepanova · 1927

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“This striking catalog cover by Varvara Stepanova uses photomontage and bold graphics to celebrate the Soviet Union's tenth anniversary, embodying the revolutionary spirit and industrial drive of its time.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

This book catalog cover, created by Varvara Stepanova in 1927, immediately grabs your attention with its dynamic arrangement of photomontage and bold typography. A stark black-and-white portrait of Vladimir Lenin, seen from below, dominates the upper right, his gaze directed upward, symbolizing revolutionary aspiration. Below him, a powerful, almost abstract image of industrial machinery underscores the Soviet Union's commitment to technological progress and production. The title, "October: Ten Years of Struggle and Construction," is rendered in a strong, sans-serif typeface, reflecting the Constructivist movement's embrace of utilitarian design and its rejection of traditional aesthetics. This cover isn't just an advertisement for books; it's a piece of propaganda, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution and encapsulating the era's revolutionary fervor and its vision for a new society built on industry and collective effort.

DETAILS
Artist
Varvara Stepanova
Date
1927
Medium
Photolithography and photomontage
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
22.9 × 15.3 cm (9 × 6 in.)
ART MOVEMENTS
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What to Notice

Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Oktiabr’: Desiat let bor’by i stroitel’stva 1917-1927. Katalog knig. (October: Ten Years of Struggle and Construction 1917-1927: Book Catalog)
01

Lenin's upward gaze, suggesting vision and future orientation.

02

The interlocking gears and industrial forms, symbolizing progress.

03

The stark black, white, and red color scheme, typical of Constructivism.

04

The use of photomontage to combine disparate images into a unified message.

THE ARTIST

Varvara Stepanova

1894–1958 · Russian Empire

Varvara Stepanova was a leading Constructivist, transforming art from spiritual contemplation into a dynamic tool for revolutionary society through graphic design, textiles, and stagecraft.

Read Stepanova’s full story
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